LIFE AT CHENEVAUX
Life at Chenevaux is shaped by the calm pace of the days and the shifting seasons. There is no set pattern here, but there are familiar things we regularly return to, such as spending mornings in the fresh air, visiting local markets, sharing meals outside and noticing how the landscape transforms throughout the year.
Over time, we have come to appreciate the quieter rhythms of life here, including the unhurried mornings, the evolving light, the sound of birds in the garden and the pleasure of having nowhere particular to be. These are the things that remind us why we chose to live here.
Mornings
The days often begin quietly here. On an early walk you might notice the sunlight stretching across the fields while mist lingers over the river. Back at the cottage, breakfast is usually enjoyed outside, while listening to the sounds around us as Chenevaux gradually comes to life.
The animals are part of this quiet harmony too. From the birds in the garden, to deer, hares and other wildlife that roam the surrounding countryside. Our dogs may wander over to say hello, while the cats, ducks and hens go about their own morning routines.
Gardens
We spend much of our time in the grounds here, quietly shaping the natural flow of our days. We cut flowers for the house, pick herbs for the kitchen and often move our chairs to wherever the sun or shade feel most inviting.
Some afternoons are spent deadheading the roses or tending to the lawns before returning to the shade for some well-erned refreshments. However the day unfolds, the gardens are rarely just something to look at; they are where much of life at Chenevaux is lived.
Village Life
Over time, we’ve grown to love the little details that make village life feel so personal. We’ve come to know the surrounding villages beyond their markets and cafés. They are places of familiar faces, small traditions and things that have quietly become part of our everyday life.
Afternoons are sometimes spent sitting on a terrace in a village square, catching up with friends over a coffee or a glass of something cold, watching people come and go and listening to the conversations around us.
Some of the most memorable moments are wonderfully ordinary. Like the church bells that ring on the hour and then again two minutes later. When I asked why, someone simply replied, “In case you missed it the first time.” It’s a small story, but one that has always made us smile.
Markets
Weekly markets are a favourite part of our routine. They change throughout the year and always give us a reason to return. We rarely arrive with a shopping list. We much prefer to choose whatever is fresh and looking at its best that morning. Our visits usually includes a pause for coffee and, if we're tempted, a plate of fresh oysters or prawns served the French way with a glass of wine.
Back at Chenevaux, baskets are unpacked onto the kitchen table, and a simple lunch often comes together from whatever we've brought home that day.
Visiting a village market and trying some of the local produce is a wonderful way to experience a truly authentic glimpse into the french way of life.
Brocantes
We never quite know what we'll find at a brocante, and that's part of the fun. Some visits end with nothing more than a wander, while others uncover a piece that eventually finds its place at Chenevaux.
We rarely go looking for anything specific, yet we almost never leave empty-handed. Instead, we find something that simply feels as though it belongs. Each piece carries a little history, and over time becomes part of our story too. Many of the pieces you'll find throughout the cottage were discovered this way, collected slowly over the years, each with its own quiet character.
One observation that always makes me smile at brocantes is seeing the sellers sitting around a dinner table which they set up behind their stalls. They share lunch together with wine, bread and cheese. I find it endlessly charming but to the French, it's just normal life.
Evenings
As the day begins to slow, we usually find ourselves outside again. From time to time friends stop by for an apéritif, or we set the table under a tree and share dinner which stretches long after the plates have been cleared. After a wander around the gardens we simply sit with a glass of wine and watch the sunset and the light fade across the fields.
There is very little to interrupt the evening here. As darkness arrives, the stars begin to appear one by one, and the quiet returns in a different way.